Mile Marker 90–107 · Upper Keys
Key Largo Real Estate
The first island down and the Diving Capital of the World.
The Gateway Island
Closest to the mainland, largest of the Keys
Key Largo is the first and largest of the Florida Keys, running roughly from Mile Marker 90 to 107 and sitting about an hour from Miami — closer to the mainland than anywhere else in the chain. That proximity shapes the market: it is the most practical Keys address for buyers who still need regular access to the city, and it carries the widest range of price points, from modest canal houses to open-water estates.
It is also the dive and eco capital of the region. John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park — the first undersea park in the United States — is here, along with the Dagny Johnson hardwood hammock preserve and the reefs that draw divers year-round. For a buyer, that means a genuine year-round visitor economy and a lifestyle built around the water rather than a seasonal-only town.
What Buying in Key Largo Actually Involves
County rules, and knowing bay side from ocean side
Most of Key Largo is unincorporated Monroe County, so county zoning, building and rental rules govern — a different rulebook than the incorporated cities and villages down the chain. Whether a property sits bay side or ocean side changes your water access, your exposure and often your price, so settle that before you start looking.
The Keys diligence is non-negotiable here as everywhere: elevation certificate, wind-mitigation report, the county permit history, an honest look at seawall, dock and lift where they exist, and firm flood and windstorm quotes on the specific address. Given Key Largo's size, 'Key Largo' can mean very different neighborhoods — local guidance on which pocket fits your use is worth more here than almost anywhere in the Keys.
Renting It Out
Key Largo falls largely under unincorporated Monroe County, which generally requires a 28-day minimum stay in residential districts, with narrow exceptions in specific tourist-zoned areas. Short-term (nightly or weekly) rental is not broadly permitted across residential Key Largo. Confirm the zoning, the current county ordinance, and any recorded rental history for the exact address before relying on rental income.
See What’s for Sale in Key Largo
Search active Florida Keys MLS listings, and reach out for anything you want walked in person. We know these islands address by address — what the photos do not show is usually what decides the deal.
Explore the Other Keys
Every island in the chain has its own rules, water and market.